212 



THE BLANK-KROK, 



the habit of using this device are fully as many as one man 

 can well manage. 



PIG. 1. 



PIG. 



rO 



THE BLANK-KROK. 



The Blank-krok, or shining-hook an artificial fish, in 

 short is another device much used in winter. 



The body part is composed of pewter, or pewter and 

 tin mixed. One side is flat and the other round. Some- 

 times it is armed with two hooks, a larger and a small one 

 (Fig. 1), sometimes with a single hook (Fig. 2). Its dimen- 

 sions, as well as the size of the hook, vary according to the 

 kind of fish for whose capture it is intended. The hooks 

 are unbarbed. At the upper part of the Blank-krok is a 

 small hole to admit the line, which is secured by a knot; 

 whilst to the lower is attached a small piece of red cloth, 

 as well to represent the tail of a fish, as partially to conceal 

 the hook. And this piece of finery tends greatly, it is said, to 

 lure the fish. I have heard people aver, indeed, that if deprived 

 of the gay appendage, they will hardly look at this device. 



